The Nigerian Government has launched the national nutrition programme code-named Nutrition 774
The nutrition programme covers the 774 Local Government Areas in Nigeria thereby bringing smiles to the faces of children and women across the country
Launching the programme on Thursday, ahead of the commencement of the meeting of the National Economic Council for the month of February, Vice President Kashim Shettima called on the subnationals to key into the programme, to enhance the living conditions of women and children.
Launching the Nutrition 774 programme, Vice President Kashim Shettima, nutrition is an issue that tops the health agenda of Nigeria.
He added that malnutrition comes with dire consequences that cannot be overlooked thus; all hands must be on deck to tackle the problem.
“The question of nutrition is not just at the heart of our nation’s health nor is it limited to our food security; it is the fulcrum of our national security. We are the composition of what we consume.
“This is why the nutrition 774 initiative is not only an agent but also a turning point. By focusing on grassroots impact, we will ensure that mothers and children across all communities have access to critical nutrition support where it matters most,” said the Vice President.
He therefore, enjoined the subnational and other stakeholders to brace up, as he reeled out the objectives of the N774 programme, which focuses on how to impact the grassroots.
“The consequences of malnutrition extend far beyound the health sector. They form the foundation of crises that limit productivity, planning and ultimately national growth.
“These are the nutrition 774 initiative is designed to address this march towards a lasting solution. This initiative is therefore an invitation to all stakeholders; our Governors, Ministers, Local Government Chairmen, development partners and the private sector to take action.
“It is also a pledge to the people of Nigeria that we will not standby while our children suffer the preventable consequences of malnutrition,” he said.
The Minister of State for Health Dr Iziaq Salako, noted that lack of nutrition has negative effects on the physical and educational development of children.
“Research has shown that nutrition plays a very important role and when it is absent in a child, it has a negative impact on the cognitive development, educational attainment and productivity of our children.
“Therefore, if we really want to develop the human capacity of Nigerians and ensure that our children are able to perform optimally, this is an aspect that we must give a lot of attention to,” the Minister stated.
Kwara State Governor, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, pledged the commitment of the thirty six State Governors to the implementation and success of the N774 programme. Similarly, the President, Association of Local Governments of Nigeria, Mr Bello Lawal, assured Nigerians that the entire Local Governments of Nigeria will support the nutrition programme.
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Health Mrs Uju Anwukah, said the N774 programmes focuses on cascading high impact nutrition interventions down to the grassroots.
She said: “What this programme or initiatives does is to identify the gaps in tackling malnutrition in the country and to ensure that no community is left behind. A lot of our focus is about improving financing and coordination for nutrition as well as ensuring that we prioritise interventions.”
High point of the event was the signing of the pact on nutrition between the local, state and federal governments, followed by the unveiling of the implementation document for the N774 nutrition programme, by Vice President Kashim Shettima.
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